Frontiers

HC Deb 19 June 1961 vol 642 cc926-7

6. Mr. Frank Allaun

asked the Lord Privy Seal if his attention has been drawn to an article in the London Bulletin, published in the United Kingdom by the German Federal Government on 16th May, advocating the return of the former territories east of the Oder-Neisse frontier; and if, in view of the potential adverse effect of this upon the prospects of a peaceful settlement in Europe, he will make representations to the Ambassador.

Mr. Heath

No, Sir. The article does not advocate the return of the former Eastern territories.

Mr. Allaun

But it certainly encouraged that. Does not the Minister think that this kind of propaganda appearing in an official publication encourages those forces in Germany whose dreams of recapturing lost provinces may cause a third war? Is it not an added impertinence when published in Britain?

Mr. Heath

I think it must be some time since the hon. Gentleman read the article, because he has forgotten that it says plainly that the Germans are fully conscious today of the fact that the Polish people were second only to the Jews in bearing the brunt of Hitler's savagery, and repeats the Government's statement that it renounces force as a means of changing frontiers.

8. Mr. S. Silverman

asked the Lord Privy Seal what proposals Her Majesty's Government have made or will make to their North Atlantic Treaty Organisation allies to secure a just plan for the stablisation of the German-Polish frontier.

Mr. Heath

None, Sir. The attitude of Her Majesty's Government remains that, in accordance with the Potsdam Agreement, the final delimitation of the frontier between Germany and Poland cannot be formalised until there is a peace settlement.

Mr. Silverman

Does the Lord Privy Seal realise, first, that there are at present no negotiations for a final peace settlement and that the Government are resisting the suggestion that there should be; second, that the Potsdam Agreement was destroyed long ago; and third, apart from these legal doubts and hesitations, the fact that there is an undetermined frontier between Poland and Germany—any part of Germany—is the most potent cause of instability in Eastern Europe and the most likely cause now existing in the world of a breakdown of international peace? Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that, although it was always contemplated that there might be minor local rectifications, the principle of the frontier we were committed to at Potsdam and ought not now to resile from? [HON. MEMBERS: "Speech."] If that is a speech, it is a very good one.

Mr. Heath

I recognise full well that there are no negotiations going on at the moment. The Western Powers stated after the failure of the last Summit that they were always prepared to discuss these matters, but what is at stake is not legal quibbles but the freedom of West Berlin and the right of the East Berliners to have their own self-determination.

Mr. Silverman

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. The last answer of the right hon. Gentleman seems to have arisen from the misconception that we were still considering supplementary questions to Question No. 7. Will he now give an answer to Question No. 8, which is the one I asked?

Mr. Speaker

It is essential that we get on and do not ask those things.

Mr. Heath

If the hon. Gentleman looks at the answer tomorrow, he will see that it is absolutely on the point.